Conversation 027 – Money, Lifestyle and Ultimate Purpose

Seeker 1: All driven by money in this world. I am quite frustrated!

Seeker 2: Yes, money addiction causes madness. We should be old enough to realize our priorities for sure.

Seeker 1: I know about you! But what we *sow* currently will give knowledge for the future but action has be taken based on that knowledge.

Seeker 2: Yes, we have to live our life based on that knowledge. It’s God’s gift to provide us that right knowledge and the opportunity to study that. It’s not the people’s fault as to why they are like this. But still they have to reap for what they are doing. Not knowing ethics and moral values cannot be the reason for improper actions. People think they are over smart and so they try to exploit the vulnerable. It is Jada Bharath instruction in Srimad Bhagavatham that comes to mind in this aspect.

Seeker 1: What is that instruction from Jada Bharat?

Seeker 2: “Today you are a king and I am your servant, but tomorrow the position may be changed, and you may be my servant and I your master. These are temporary circumstances created by providence.” – Srimad Bhagavatham 5.10.11 (https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/10/11/)

Seeker 1: This world is for business and greedy people only, not letting normal people to live on their own way. I know it is all temporary. But still there is no justice…

Seeker 2: Yes. But now I have got a different perspective of everything. I too was totally fed-up with everything. I really didn’t know the purpose to live. Except for Krishna and Srimad Bhagavatham which is teaching me to just float away till there is life in this body.

Seeker 1: People change a lot.

Seeker 2: Yes, those whom we thought are genuine are not in reality. Just the self-interests prevail!

Seeker 1: Yes it is difficult to understand when and why people change. Sometimes I feel it’s very difficult to change but sometimes people easily change. I’m not getting the connecting dots.

Seeker 2: Money and business is more important than anything for them!

Seeker 1: Money changes ones character than anything else. Nothing else changes people’s character as much as money. Why? Any perfect scientific answer to this?

Seeker 2: Yes. People are obsessed with materialistic comforts and only money can get it according to them.

Seeker 1: Is there any reason for it as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatham? There is something beyond that I believe apart from money.

Seeker 2: Definitely. Srimad Bhagavatham is full of being away from materialistic obsessions and how to find peace within oneself understanding the science of God.

Seeker 2: Krishna will give what one honestly deserves and He will also give the opportunity to earn it in a dignified way.

Seeker 1: True

Seeker 2: Just that we should not lose our dignity in front of money minded materialistic people.

Seeker 1: Absolutely true… But this again has been planned by Him?

Seeker 2: Learn to live within our limitations. First starting with the eating habits and stop gratifying our tongue. Rest will automatically follow. Our body just needs one meal a day!

Seeker 1: Interesting. What are the best eating habits? What is the best to eat?

Seeker 2: Only lunch is sufficient. Just normal homemade vegetarian food.

Seeker 1: Are you serious?

Seeker 2: Yes. One should try to avoid eating at hotels as much as possible because food is not prepared in our presence and also they are seldom offered to the Gods.

Seeker 1: Can you explain more? What are the noticeable changes one could observe on doing this?

Seeker 2: Actually you don’t need to eat that much food. The body doesn’t need it. It’s all availability and temptation. Only some vairagya (dispassion / renunciation) and clearly analyzing the impact of certain food stuffs on our thought process can bring about a change in us. Fasting twice a month (Ekadashis) subsisting on only limited fruits also helps.

Some people might think that this is crazy and what is the necessity to put the body under this rigour.

Seeker 2: But the benefits are immense. First, it gives the body to tolerate pain and builds resilience.

Seeker 1: Just having lunch alone will not have health issues?

Seeker 2: Not at all. Even when you get fever, stomach pain etc. the body is able to handle the pain and the illness will go by itself after 2 days. No doctor no medicine! The healing power of the body at work, the ability to tolerate pain is what you gain from the power of Srimad Bhagavatham, food habits and fasting. Krishna and Srimad Bhagavatham is the best doctor. Most doctors are all bookish without any spiritual knowledge except a rare few…

Seeker 2: There is nothing that is not there in Srimad Bhagavatham. Srimad Bhagavatham is not just for the dying person. Krishna makes you know more about the purpose of life even when you are living and when you are in deep sorrow He is the best solace.

Footnote (for substantiation) : Eating in moderation has also been emphasized greatly in Bhagavat Gita and Saint Poet Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukural for uplifting one’s spiritual consciousness:

naty-asnatas ‘tu yogo ‘sti
na caikantam anasnatah
na cati-svapna-silasya
jagrato naiva carjuna

“There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. – Regulation of diet and sleep is recommended herein for the yogis. Too much eating means eating more than is required to keep the body and soul together.“ – Bhagavad Gita 6.16 (https://asitis.com/6/16.html) (Chapter 6 – Sankhya Yoga)

செவிக்குண வில்லாத போழ்து சிறிது
வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப் படும்

Translation: 
When ’tis no longer time the listening ear to feed 
With trifling dole of food supply the body’s need.

Explanation: 
When there is no food for the ear, give a little also to the stomach.

Chapter 42 – Listening, Thirukural No. 412. (http://www.thirukkural.com/2009/01/blog-post_9406.html#412 – Beautiful multiple explanations are given here in the Tamil language : For those who are lucky to read Tamil, the beauty can be much more appreciated than the above plain explanations.

And…Finally, here is something from the scientific community on this subject, the common misconceptions explained:

1. 
   https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-unhealthy-to-eat-only-one-big-meal-per-day?no_redirect=1
2. 
   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413113005032?via%3Dihub . The below conclusion is from this article:

IF – Intermittent Fasting(One meal a day), PF – Periodic Fasting(Once a week etc.)
AD – Alzheimer’s Disease, PD – Parkinson’s Disease